Form for making concrete arches.



J. BRAWNER.

FORM FOR MAKING CONCRETE ARCHES.

APPLICATION FYI-ED MAY 13, 1913.

1,1 18,630. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1913- Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

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uEiEEn STATES PATENT oEEieE.

JEFFERSON IB RAWNER, OF FAIRBURY, NEBRASKA.

FORM FOR MAKING CONCRETE ARGHES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jnrrnnson BRAWNER, citizen of the United States, residing at F airbury, in the county of Jefferson and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forms for Making Concrete Arches,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the provision of a collapsible form for use in making concrete arches orculverts, which may be readily placed in position and easily withdrawn after the concrete has set. It has also for its object the provision of simple means whereby the form may be held against collapse when it it in use, and seeks generally to improve the construction and arrangement of the parts of a device for the stated purpose to the end that the durability and efficiency of the same may be increased while maintaining economy in manufacture. p

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and is hereinafter fully described, the novel features being subsequently particularly pointed out in the claims following the description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an end elevation of a form embodying my improvement and showing the same set up for use. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the device adjusted to permit removal of the form from the arch or culvert. Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the side plates or forms.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a top member which is preferably of sheet metal having its ends disposed in parallel planes whereby its central portion will be given an arcuate form, as shown at 1., which may be semi-circular or describe a lesser arc of any desired radius corresponding to the arch to be procured. The side portions 2 of this top member are connected by cross bars or braces 3 which are rigidly secured to the inner faces of the side members, as clearly shown, whereby the arcuate form of the said member will be maintained at all times. To support this top member, I employ side members consisting of sheet metal plates 4 having base portions or feet 5 extending at right angles to the side plates Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13, 1913.

Patented Nov. 24., 1914.

Serial No. 767,417.

and adapted to rest upon the base of the arch after the same has been formed and before the side walls of the arch have been poured. To the inner faces of said side plates and the feet extending therefrom I rigidly secure a brace or reinforcingframe (l which is secured to the side plates and the bases or feet thereof adjacent the end edges of the same and has a top portion projecting slightly above the upper edge of the side plates, as clearly shown. After the base of the arch has been formed either by pouring it cementitious mixture over the place where the arch is to be produced or building a horizontal foundation, the said side members are placed in position upon the said base and the top member is then superposed upon the side members with its side edges resting upon the upper edges of the slde plates 4L and against the top projecting portion of the brace 6, as clearly shown in Fig. l. The cross bars 3 will prevent the top member springing outwardly from the side members and the engagement of the top member with the upper portion of the brace 6 will prevent lateral movement inwardly of the top member so that the top member will be firmly supported in operative position.

To maintain the side members in their proper spaced relation, I employfoldable connections consisting of links 7 pivoted at their outer ends between pairs of lugs 8 formed on or rigidly secured to the side portions of the reinforcing frames 6 and having their inner ends hingedly connected as shown at 9. These links, it will be readily noted, form toggles, and if the toggles be straightened by moving the connected links into alinement, the side plates will be moved away from each other so that they may be accurately placed in proper position upon the base provided for the arch. Likewise, if the toggles be collapsed by moving the links, the side members will be drawn toward each other and the form permitted to collapse. To operate these links or toggles, I employ connecting bars 10 which are disposed parallel with the side plates and are pivotally connected to the links, as clearly shown. These side bars extend beyond one end of the form which end will, for convenience, be designated the front end,

and at the said front end a handle or loop 11 is pivotally or otherwise connected to the extremities of the upper and lower bars 10 so that the upper and lower toggles will be simultaneously operated.

To guard against accidental collapse of the form before the concrete has set, I provide locking bars 12 which are carried by one member of each front toggle and are adapted to extend over the meeting end of the coacting member of the toggle. After the toggle has been straightened, as shown in Fig. 2, the free end of this locking bar is bolted or otherwise secured to the coacting toggle member so that outward movement of the toggle will be prevented.

It will be readily noted that the hinge connection between the toggle members consists of mating offset lugs through which a suitable pivot pin is passed and abutting shoulders 13 are provided by the ends of the toggle members so that the movement of the toggles when the operating bars or rods 10 are pushed rearwardly will be limited and it will be impossible to carry the toggles beyond the point at which their members will be in alinement. If the locking bars 12 be then secured in place, outward accidental movement of the toggle will be pre vented and consequently the form cannot collapse until the locking bars are released and the operating bars manipulated by the workmen.

It will be readily noted from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I have provided an exceedingly simple device which will remain firmly in place while in use, and which may be easily and rapidly placed in position or withdrawn after the arch has set.

The device is free of all complicated constructions or arrangement of parts so that it is not liable to get out of order and it may be produced and operated at a low cost.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. A device for the purpose set forth comprising side members, a reinforcing frame secured to the inner face of each side member near the end edges of the same, said frame extending to the lower edge of the side member and projecting above the upper edge thereof, connections between the said side members whereby to move said members toward and from each other, and an arcuate top member having its side portions adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the side members and against the outer faces of the upwardly projecting portions of said reinforcing frames.

2. A device for the purpose set forth comprising side members having inwardly projecting feet at their lower edges, reinforcing frames secured to the inner faces of the side members and the upper sides of the feet adjacent the ends thereof and having portions projecting above the top edges of the side members and extending along the same, inwardly projecting lugs on the side portions of said reinforcing frames, levers pivoted at their outer ends to said lugs and having their inner meeting ends pivoted together, operating bars pivoted to and connecting pairs of said links, and an arcuate top member having its side portions resting on the upper edges of the side members and against the outer faces of the upwardly projecting portions of the reinforcing frames.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

H. S. SIMrsoN, J. O. EVANS.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

